White House to jump-start Guinness World Records attempt

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

First lady Michelle Obama hosts a Let's Move! soccer clinic last week on the White House's South Lawn.

Story highlights

To break jumping jacks record, more than 20,000 people from around the world must take part

Each person must do jumping jacks for a full minute

The first lady is an advocate of exercise and good eating habits for kids

First lady Michelle Obama takes to the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday to break a sweat with schoolkids as they join in an attempt to break the Guinness World Records for the most people doing jumping jacks over a 24-hour period.

To break the record, more than 20,000 people from around the world need to get on their feet and do jumping jacks for one minute. The White House event will be reviewed by an official from Guinness.

The recording-setting attempt is sponsored by National Geographic Kids. The "Let's Jump" rules say all jumping jacks must be done during a 24-hour period, starting at 3 p.m. ET Tuesday.

"Each person must do jumping jacks for one full minute, nonstop," the rules say. "Those who do not cannot be counted."

The rules also advise participants to take lots of pictures, keep a logbook and organize those doing jumping jacks into rows or squares.

The first lady, an advocate of exercise and good eating habits for America's children, launched her Let's Move! initiative last year.

"The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake," Obama said at the time.